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Enigma	By : Skullbearer Category: A through F > Dragonlance Views: 3917 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own the book(s) that this fanfiction is written for, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 7
- 8
Enigma
Chapter eight- Caring
"Star by Star
Corrupting all of humanity
So much alike are we
When I see you I see me."
-Star by Star, Kovenant
It was mid morning when Raistlin woke up, having slept later than he usually did. He was usually an early riser, but it seemed he enjoyed sleeping with Dalamar too much to cut it short.
The Dark elf was awake by that time, although he was still pressed up against Raistlin, face buried in his hair.
"Are you awake?" The Dark elf mumbled.
"Yes."
"Oh, good." Dalamar snuggled closer.
There was a moment's pause, then, "Shall we get up?"
"Not right now."
"Why?"
"Why not?"
"Get off me." Raistlin tried to hide the fondness in his voice, but failed. He wondered how Dalamar could do this, could offer himself so willingly after what had happened to him. If he had been in Dalamar's place, he doubted he could do the same, no matter how much he cared for the person. How much he cared for Dalamar. That was the word, the reason he'd not wanted to remind the Dark elf of bad memories, and why he wanted the elf to enjoy their sex as much as he did. It was why he'd felt sick when Dalamar had told him of his past last night. Because he cared for the Dark elf, cared for this person, who he'd met only a week ago. Cared for him more than he did for anyone else he knew.
Cared. For Dalamar.
And Dalamar cared for him too, because instead of insisting, he just sighed and rolled off Raistlin, who sat up and started getting dressed. "We'd better get going if we want to make it to Solace before dark," Raistlin changed the subject, "We should make the town outskirts by sunset if we start moving now."
"And what are you going to tell them when we get there?" Dalamar followed suit, demeanour switching from amused to slightly worried with surprising swiftness.
"Tell me, do you actually care what people think?" Raistlin looked at him curiously.
"No, but you might."
"As I said yesterday, they already dislike me," Dalamar would see in his face that the feelings were mutual, "I doubt you coming with me will change things one jot."
"And what happens when they discover you're sleeping with me?"
Raistlin gazed hard into Dalamar's face. "Does it look to you as though I care?" He doubted it would garner him any more scorn from those he knew. He was already mocked for so many reasons that sleeping with another man would hardly matter.
Dalamar smiled slightly. "No, not at all."
Raistlin smiled back, "You're very good at reading people, after all."
The day had promised to be an exceptionally hot one that morning, and now that promise was kept. The sun beat down on the road and the travellers on it; Raistlin felt irritated and uncomfortable and longed to get under the shade of the vallenwoods which now stretched just ahead, yet at the same time wished fervently they never got there.
Despite his uncaring words to Dalamar, he was dreading this confrontation, not with the other inhabitants of Solace, who he hardly cared about, not even with Caramon, who would make all too much of a fuss. It was Kitiara's reaction he most feared, if fear was the word. He'd been on the recieving end of her scorn too many times not to want to avoid it. He could deal with it from anyone else, with a sneer and a cutting remark, but Kitiara had been the only one who's disgust actually bothered him. It was a meeting he was longing to avoid, and he had no doubt Dalamar had been able to read the thoughts from his face.
"Well, it certainly looks as if you do care what some people think." Correct, as usual.
"Just one person." Raistlin replied as the two finally stepped under the overhanging boughs of the vallenwoods and out of the sun.
"And who could that be? Not your brother obviously by what you've told me of him."
"No, not him, my sister in fact, Kitiara."
"Ah, and why would you care?"
Raistlin shrugged indifferently.
"Yes, siblings can be like that."
Raistlin couldn't help but smile wryly. It still surprised him how good Dalamar was at reading him.
"And sibling rivalry most likely doesn't help." The Dark elf finished.
"No, it doesn't." He agreed, then wondered. Was this one reason why he was dreading the encounter? Was he afraid he would lose the Dalamar to his sister? Why? Wasn't she too busy with that Half-elf Tanis?
You know better than that, he sneered at himself, Like Kitiara would care what Tanis thought and since he's away, there's no need for her to worry. He'd already heard more than one rumour, and while Tanis might brush it off, Raistlin knew better. Dalamar would be the sort of person she would be interested in. As to why he worried about Dalamar turning away from him, he knew very well. He had heard it whispered enough in his mind not to have any doubts- Because she's fierce, sensual and beautiful, everything you're not.
But then, he thought- because the mind has a way of springing the worst fears at exactly the wrong moment- how would he feel if he was wrong and Dalamar decided he prefered Kitiara's company over his? It wasn't as if it hadn't happened before, although this would be the first time he cared about it. And he cared a lot. For someone who had always had so little to hold dear, to lose Dalamar would be a crushing blow, and not just to his ego. The Dark elf's companionship had been something he hadn't experienced before- to actually find someone who's presence he could not only tolerate, but also enjoy, and even- a worrying thought, depend on?
Yet, at the same time, Raistlin had grown to care about Dalamar a lot, enough that, should the elf confirm his fears, Raistlin really couldn't see what he could do to stop him. Dalamar didn't belong to him (although Raistlin would argue furiously that he certainly belonged with him), and if the Dark elf prefered Kitiara's company to his... well, Raistlin would have to deal with that, as sickening as the notion was.
But yet... At the same time he was wondering about how Dalamar had twice fallen into a trap of fearing that Raistlin would act like others had. Was he doing the same? He had seen anough people taken by his sister, was that why he worried that Dalamar would do the same? In the eight days he had known Dalamar, was there any evidence that he would do as Raistlin suspected?
Not really.
No. Raistlin thought firmly, more than 'not really'. No. He wouldn't. He was good at reading Dalamar- better, probably, than the elf himself- and he knew that he wouldn't get rid of him just to go after his sister, especially after last night. To believe so would be to believe Dalamar had lied, and that, Raistlin knew perfectly, was a lie itself.
He knew Dalamar, and while he didn't know the elf perfectly- and now Raistlin suspected he never would, never completely, and the thought was wonderful- he knew him well enough to know that to even consider that he would leave him for someone else, so quickly- and based on physical attraction- was, well, cruel and vile and completely unfair, to name just a few.
He'd decided he could trust the Dark elf, now to prove that trust.
Dalamar had been quiet while Raistlin thought, but now he caught his eye and nodded at the great trees surrounding them. "How far is it to Solace?"
"Still quite a way, we should be there before nightfall though." Raistlin broke out of his reverie and glanced at Dalamar.
The elf looked nervous, an interesting expression for one who for most of their travels had been calm and controlled. But one fitting for one who had been shunned everywhere. Raistlin knew better than to worry about it happening again here, he had lived in Solace all his life, and the only person he had seen turned away had been the Widow Judith. And that, Raistlin thought savagely, had been perfectly well deserved.
As long as Dalamar followed the laws and didn't stir up trouble, he would be allowed to stay there, which was just as well. Raistlin wasn't sure what he would do if it turned out otherwise- probably try to find him somewhere to stay nearby, since it seemed unthinkable that they should separate just when things were getting so interesting.
Gods, but he hoped-
Warm lips brushed his cheek lightly. Raistlin jumped at the sudden toutch, and turned to see Dalamar smiling.
"You're not going to do that in public, are you?" The human mage asked, half sarcastic to mask his thoughts.
The Dark elf just smiled again, "I would hardly call this public." he said.
Indeed, there was no one else in sight. Then one hand went to the back of Raistlin's neck and pulled him into another kiss, a far harsher one; teeth clashing, tongues twining, hungry and devouring which left them both breathless.
"Very nice." Dalamar remarked, licking his lips.
"Yes." Raistlin tried to appear nonchalant, a hopeless venture as they were both flushed, dazed and aroused. "Definitely not in public."
"No." Dalamar slid his arms around Raistlin's waist and pulled the slender mage close, chin resting on his head. "Definitely not."
Raistlin was quite sure the elf meant something else entirely.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It was quite late when they drew in sight of Solace, and night was falling over the small town by the time they arrived inside it's boundries. Raistlin smiled at the look on Dalamar's face as he looked up at the houses nestled within the boughs of the great trees. Again, he felt the odd pride at the elf's look of amazement, for all that Dalamar must have seen some strange things in his life, this was still enough to surprise him.
The elf caught Raistlin's eye and smiled back. "It really is quite something," he murmered, grey eyes tracing the walkways strung between the trees, before resting on one of the largest buildings. "Who lives there?"
Raistlin followed his gaze and smiled, "That's the Inn of the Last Home, they do good food there if you're hungry." He didn't have any money, having spent everything he had on the wagon ride to Qualinesti, but Otik knew him and would extend him credit.
Dalamar blinked, "You have your inn in the trees?" He gave Raistlin a sideways glance, "Is that the rule with everything else too?" He sounded incredulous.
"Everything except the smithy, yes." Raistlin started towards one of the stairways leading up to the inn, "And even then, that's probably only because it's run by a dwarf."
The Dark elf shook his head incredulously, then followed Raistlin. He paused, one hand on the handrail of the walkway. Although they were still some distance from Solace, the walkways stretched a long way; even over here, near Solace's other inn, the run-down Trough. "You say that the people here wouldn't object to me living here, do you think it'll be hard to find work?"
Raistlin could hear all too clearly what Dalamar didn't say, the memory of what he'd been forced to do in order to survive. He shook his head, in answer of both the silent question and the spoken one.
"I think you shouldn't have much trouble, most of the people here would be glad to have some things done by magic- especially since my schoolmaster forbids anyone from so much as conjuring a fire, on pain of expusion." Raistlin scowled at the memory of the last shouting match he had endured on the topic. "You could ask at the inn, I'm sure someone would know."
Dalamar chuckled, and started up the steps after Raistlin. Despite his reassurance to the contrary, Raistlin saw him sway slightly when he looked down- a mistake. Vallenwoods were immensly tall and the buildings could be as much as thirty meters off the ground. It wasn't much to one who had lived his life in the trees, as Raistlin had, but apparently it was a bit much for Dalamar, who was holding on to the railings a bit more tightly than necessary. He kept climbing though, and gave Raistlin a slightly self-deprecating smile as he did so. Raistlin smiled back, and put a hand on the Dark elf's shoulder, an unconcious motion that surprised him. Dalamar lifted an eyebrow at the contact, and smiled again, a much happier expression that brought that familiar yet odd glow of warmth to Raistlin's chest.
Raistlin smiled back, and touched Dalamar's hand, the other gesturing to the view of tree-town. Here and there, the soft glow of firelight lit upn the various windows, making the trees look as if they were full of fireflies. As they watched, the lamps in the Inn of the Last Home were lit, and the night was filled with the miriad of stained glass colours.
They stood, watching the lights for a long time. It was an old sight to Raistlin, but one made new from sharing it. He felt as though he should say something, so he looked over at Dalamar. The Dark elf didn't catch his eye at first, still watching the lights with an odd look on his face, then he noticed Raistlin and smiled back.
It was the most honest expression Raistlin had ever seen on anyone's face, and any doubts he might have had flew away in a moment. "Welcome to Solace" He said simply, but he knew perfectly well that Dalamar knew what he truely meant.
Welcome home.
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Enigma